Question

Persuasion and Propaganda

Proposition B is flawed
by Larry Rohrbach

No one would disagree with the fact that Missouri's roads could be improved. Where Missourians differ is how to do that. The first solution in the minds of the government is "spend more money." Proposition B would increase taxes by half billion a year, the biggest tax increase in Missouri history. The problem with throwing money at our road problems is that we've done that before. Just 10 years ago I supported a six-cent fuel tax increase, and we're worse off now than we were then. We spend more money, and the road

Answer 1

Proposition B would increase taxes by half billion a year, the biggest tax increase in Missouri history. The problem with throwing money at our road problems is that we've done that before. Just 10 years ago I supported a six-cent fuel tax increase, and we're worse off now than we were then. We spend more money, and the roads and bridges continue to get worse.
Proposition B is more than just a way to fund the roads. It is a dramatic change in tax policy. About two-thirds of the tax dollars generated by Proposition B will come directly from the pockets of Missourians who may or may not even drive. The tax dollars will come mostly from poorer Missourians and the money they spend on things like clothes, shoes, appliances, etc. Proposition B is not just about funding highways, its about what kind of tax policy we want in Missouri.
Our biggest problem is not money; it's accountability. Spending lots more money right now on Missouri's highways is putting the cart before the horse. The Missouri Department of Transportation has spent a lot of time telling us what needs to be fixed and how much it's going to cost to do it. The problem is, we've heard it before. The list of things that need to be fixed is the same as the list from 10 years ago. Haven't we been feeding our tax dollars into these programs the entire time? They've spent money on new buildings all over the state. They fly commissioners to commission meetings in department-owned airplanes. It seems they have money for everything except the road improvements promised.
To top it all off, the director of Transportation states that this huge tax increase is a good start but is only half what's needed to do the job. Let's get our transportation house in order first, and then let's talk money.
Proposition B throws money at a problem, but most of the money comes from folks who don't cause the problem. We can do better, but only if we say NO to Proposition B on August 6.
www.joplinglobe.com

2. If passed, what would Proposition B do?
Raise taxes in order to improve Missouri roads
Allow poorer Missourians to buy better clothes, shoes, and appliances
Raise money for new buildings all over the state
Improve Missouri roads without raising taxes